How We Merchandise

 

 

Merchandising is what we do to sell. Retailers strategically place products in certain areas to draw our attention to them for us to buy. In grocery stores, we see sensational displays for items that are seasonal and/or impulse buys. We know it is no secret that the chips, salsa and beer are front and center the week before the Superbowl or the candy bars at the register, as, when placed properly, we will be stimulated to buy. We grab them many times not even realizing that we are now taking them home to consume. We are develop the want that is far beyond the need.

Merchandising In Our Communities

Merchandising is so very broad as we can think of so many of the displays that we see but we forget about how merchandising is all around us. The townships, cities, neighborhoods that we live in all merchandise. They are packaging and selling a lifestyle that includes lower crime rates, a superior school system, a concentrated business district and of course the stigma that is associated with living there while others are touting the young family with the “starter homes” and the parks and recreation for which the family can grow and move to a bigger home. Certainly not what comes to mind when we think of merchandising.

How We Merchandise

Bringing this closer to “home” in designing our websites and blogs, we are merchandising. How well? Not always as well as we can. It seems like every day something is changing and trying to keep up is not easy. Too many times we are quick to jump on board without taking a moment or two to think about how this change will affect our goals. We saw this play out this past week with Twitter’s new button and Google’s +1. The new Twitter button is not that big of a change as if you have had the Twitter follow on your site, not much thought is put into this change (unless you are like me and the Twitter follow is written into the skin) but the +1 does involve some more thought but are we thinking in terms of how by adding this button will enhance the experience of the readers and ultimately help us attain our goals? I know I really was not thinking about it at all until of Social Fresh brought it to my attention and made me stop drowning in the social buttons and go back to the basics. How will these buttons help Kherize5 and the visitors of the site?

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